Arch-supporting insole



April' l2, 1932.

M. SADLER ARCH SUPPORTING INZSLE Filed Sept. 5, 1951 gwuefnto'c MaX Sadler.

bten/Mg PatentedfApr. IZ 1932 l UNITED STATES PATENT j oFFIcE.r

SADLEB, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOB T0 CAPITOL HEEL`LINING COMPANY, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND ARCH-SUPPORTING INSOLE v Application filed September 8, 1931. Serial No. 581,088.

vThis invention relates to arch-supporting insoles and has particular referenceto insoles of the type commonly called slip isoles, which are used in conjunction with or as a supplement to the usualpinsole but are not incorporated as a permanent part of the shoe structure.I

A general object of the invention is to provide an improved arch-supporting insole of 10 the slip-sole-type which is flexible and adjustable so as' -to offer the necessary and proper support for various kinds of abnormal foot conditions.

A further obj ectis to provide a slip-sole of novel construction wherein a supporting pad may be readily and easily adjusted in position, and removed and replaced.

vAnother object is to provide a slip-sole which will eiectively support the arch and other portions of the foot and at the same time will be easy and comfortable to the most sensitive foot.

A still further obj ect is to provide an arch- Asupporting slip-sole which is simple 1n construction, easy to assemble, formed of a minimum number of parts, and inexpensive to manufacture. e

These and other` features of the invention will be apparent from the following description when read in conjunction with the annexed drawings and will be pointedout in th appended clalms.

In the drawings: e

Fig. 1 is a bottom view of the improved slip-sole.

ig. 2 is a longitudinal section along line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fi .-3 is a transverse section of a shoe in whic the insole is assembled, the padbeing omitted, and taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 1, and

the pad in position. v

' As illustrated in the several figures of the drawings, the insole or slip-sole of the resent invention is formed by an upper ayer 2 of full lshoe length and having the usual heel shank and toe portions. rlhe layer 2 is preferably of a sing e lamination of leather or leather substitute and is relatively thin Fig. 4 is a similar transverse section with j suitable metho such as stitching 6, to the adjacent and overlying marginal edges of the upper layer but are entirely unconnected and free from said layer alon its inner edges 8 and its rear edges 10. The ree inner edges of the strip 4 are s aced apart from the rear end to appoint adjacent thetoe tip thereby defining a central slotl 12. @The bottom strip 4 thus constitutes a retaining flap which cooperates with the bot-tom of the la-yer 2 to form a plocket over the entire forepart of the insole, t e pocket being open at the rear end and alon its longitudinal center but otherwiseclose The pocket formed in thev manner described is designed to receive and hold a supporting 1pad 14 which may be inserted through the rear open end'and adjusted along the central opening to the desired position .relative to the insole as the needs of the wearv 'er demand. The

While'it is obvious that the size2 form and shape of the pad itself may be varied considerably, as may also the material of which it is made, the pad 14 is preferably made of soft rubber and is generally oval in outline. As illustrated inthe drawings, the pad.

is of suicient size along its widest dimension to contact with both sides of the retaining flaps and'thus cannot accidentally fall out of the central slot. The pad has a maximum thickness in its center, the bottom is sub-` stantially Hat, and the top gradually curved from the central thick 'portion toward feathered edges. A smooth curved surface, free from sharp edges, is presented by the top of the supporting pad which, together with the natural softness of the material, forms a highly comfortable support.

The comfort ofthe insole is further increased by air pockets such as 16 and 18 which form between the noncontacting' surfaces of the-flap 4 and the layer 2 when these members are spaced by the supporting pad and in the centralspace b'etween the inner edges 8 of the flap. It will thus be'seen that a restricted area of the foot will be positively, albeit resiliently, supported by the pad 14 while surrounding areas will be engaged by aircushioned portions of the insole. An efficient and comfortable support for-the most sensitive 'feet is aiforde V Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate the slip-sole assembled within a shoe of conventional type having an outsole 20, upper 22 and usual insole 24. The arch-supporting slip-sole of the invention its upon the regular insole with the pocket iap 4 in contact therewith and the upper layer 2 against the foot of the p wearer.

The slip-sole is composed of a minimum number of readily assembled parts, is in-A expensive to manufacture and is capable of such adjustment as to permit its use as a support for feet having widely dierent supporting requirements.

Havlng thus 'described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. An arch-supporting slip-sole comprising an upper lamination the forepart of which has the contour of a shoe insole, and a flexible strip secured to the bottom of said lamination along the marginal edge thereof only, the said flexible strip extending entire- 1 around the forepart from points `adjacent t e shank, the rear and inner edges of the strip being free from the upper lamination and the inner edges of the strip being spaced apart from the rear end to a point adjacent the toe tip thereby forming a central slot, the said flexible strip cooperating with the upper lamination to form a pocket having a rear opening for receiving a supporting pad.

2. An arch-supporting slip-sole compris' ing anupper lamination the orepart of lwhich has the contour of a shoe insole, a flexiopening for receiving a supporting pad, and a supporting pad Within said pocket.

3. An arch-supporting slip-sole comprising an upper lamination of flexible material having a heel', shank and orepart, a flexible strip secured to the bottom of said lamination' along the marginal edges thereof only, the said flexible strip extending along both sides of the forepart of the upper lamination from a point adjacent the shank to the toe, the rear and inner edges of `the strip being free from the upper lamination and the inner edges of the strip being spaced from each other to form a central slot, the said flexible strip cooperating with the upper lamination to form la rear opening pocket, and a resilient supporting pad within the ope'n pocket, `said pad being surrounded by airhpockets when the slip-sole is positioned in a s oe. f

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set4 

